Delays in linking SA-Zim undersea cable

Johannesburg - Logistical problems have delayed work on the fibre-optic cable linking Harare and Beit Bridge through Bulawayo to the undersea cable in South Africa, a report on Zimbabwe's The Herald Online said.

It was supposed to be completed in December last year.

When complete, the fibre-optic cable, whose installation commenced in May last year, is expected to bolster service provision by state-owned telecommunications companies NetOne and TelOne.

"Our contractor ran into a number of logistical problems that hindered progress," Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa said in a report supplied by New Ziana.

"All that has been resolved now and we expect to reach Beit Bridge by mid-year."

Chamisa said all the necessary funding to complete the project was available.

"It is vital that we complete this link on time because everyday that we go without being connected is a big loss for the country and the economy," he said.

In 2009, the government completed installation of the Harare-Mozambique link at a total cost of $6.3m.

The government embarked on the fibre-optic projects to improve broadband services as the existing Mazowe earth satellite link proved to be expensive, and had limited internet services capacity.